Harry Styles Sues Online Sellers Over Unauthorized Merch
In a bid to reduce the amount of counterfeit items in circulation online.
Harry Styles has reportedly filed a lawsuit against online vendors in the hopes of stopping the sales of unauthorized fan merchandise circulating on the internet.
According to Billboard Pro, Styles’ lawyers filed the legal action earlier this week in a Chicago federal court.
“Plaintiff is forced to file this action to combat defendants’ counterfeiting of its registered trademarks, as well as to protect unknowing consumers from purchasing counterfeit products over the Internet,” the lawsuit states. The documents suggest that the majority of these items appear on legitimate online marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy, which make it “difficult for consumers to distinguish such stores from an authorized retailer.”
In line with the legal charges, Styles’ lawyers requested a takedown of all unauthorized sellers’ items, sharing a list of specific URL links which needed to be removed, as opposed to any actual seller names or companies. The lawsuit also explains that many of the counterfeit items found are from sellers based primarily in China and “other foreign jurisdictions with lax trademark enforcement systems.”
Stay tuned for more details and in the meantime, triple check those Etsy and Amazon likes.
While you’re here, take a look at this year’s nominees for the 2023 BRIT Awards.
